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Focus, precision, determination, courage, excellence - these are the attributes of three hometown girls who begin their 2010 USA Gymnastics competitive season this month. Rylee Weirich, Reagan Weirich, and Grace Kester train 10-12 hours a week at GymAct - Gymnastics Achievers of Central Texas in Marble Falls. The girls train on the competitive team under the expert direction of GymACT founders Coach Troy Brown and Coach Ann Brown. The mission of GymACT is to teach young people the beautiful sport of gymnastics, while teaching that positive thoughts create positive actions, not only in sports, but in life. The old saying "if you think you can, you will" is and always will be the cornerstone at GymACT.

Coach Troy has been in the sport for 20 years and spent 6 of those years under Olympic coach Bela Karolyi. Coach Ann was a competitive gymnast as a child in Houston Texas and is a certified NAWGJ professional judge for USA Women’s Gymnastics. The greatest lesson they teach is that team work is as important as individual accomplishment.

Membership on the competitive team is by invitation only. Rylee, Reagan, and Grace were selected because they possess the physical strength, flexibility, agility, coordination, balance and grace that it takes to pursue the competitive edge. The girls also have the heart and mental capacity it takes to want to push their bodies a little further day after day. The girls compete in the events on the uneven parallel bars, balance beam, floor, and vault.

In Women’s Artistic Competitive Gymnastics, a gymnast competes at levels 2 through 10 with level 10 being an elite gymnast and eligible for the Olympics. A gymnast must master the required skills of a level before advancing to the next level.

Rylee, above right, started recreational gymnastics in the summer of 2007 and competed in level 4 achievement in 2008 and level 4 placement in 2009. This year she is competing at level 5. Rylee’s favorite event is vaulting. Rylee is a graceful and elegant gymnast and is fun to watch on the balance beam and the floor routine. Rylee kicks off her season on Sunday, August 22 in Corpus Christi.

Reagan, above center, started recreational gymnastics in the summer of 2007 and competed in level 4 achievement in 2008 and 2009. This year she is competing at level 5. Reagan is a powerful and athletic gymnast and does well on her favorite event, the uneven parallel bars. Reagan kicks off her season on Sunday, August 22 in Corpus Christi.

Grace, above left, began in gymnastics last September on the pre team. In January she was invited to be on the competitive gymnastics team at level 4. Grace asked for two years to be allowed to be in gymnastics and her persistence reflects in her ability to master the skills necessary to be eligible to compete this year at level 4. Grace is a strong and graceful gymnast whose favorite event is the uneven parallel bars and is fun to watch on the floor. Grace kicks off her season on August 28, in Round Rock.

Good Luck Girls!